Calculating machine



March 20, 1951 K. JORDAN CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1949 mum-u llllllllllL Affarney Patented Mar. 20, 1951 CALCULATING MACHINE Kurt Jordan, Brunswick, Germany, assignor to Brunsviga Maschinenwerke Aktiengesellschaft,

Brunswick, Germany Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,624 In Germany October 15, 1948 6 Claims. (01. 235- 81) The present invention relates to improvements in calculating machines, and particularly to calculating machines of the type provided with axially movable stepped-tooth actuator gears in each denominational order of the setting mechanism which co-operates with a registering counting mechanism, which discs are set by suitable setting levers. The invention more particularly concerns a zeroizing arrangement for the setting levers each of which by means of two pivoted levers co-operates with the stepped-tooth actuator gears associated with the corresponding denominational order. In known Zeroizing devices, the actuator discs are restored to normal simultaneously the holding pawls for the setting levers and also releasing the pivoted levers forming the operative connection between the setting levers and the gears. This however has to be done against the resistance of springs located between the gears and thus a correspondingly high expenditure of force is required before the return springs associated with the setting levers become operative, and their restoration to their normal position can take place.

The object of the invention is to enable the zeroizing arrangement to become effective with a very small expenditure of force. This problem is solved according to the invention by arranging 'for the mounting of the setting levers and/or the pivoted levers in such manner that at the beginning of the zeroizing operation relative movement of these levers in the plane of the setting levers is possibl until the setting surfaces no longer engage the pivoted levers, whereupon the restoration of the setting levers can be efiected automatically by return springs which engage the levers.

All the pivoted levers associated with the setting mechanism can be mounted at their front end in a frame which is pivoted adjacent to the rear ends of the pivoted levers. By the depression of this frame the pivoted levers can be moved out of range of the setting levers in a radial direction. In this connection, it is advantageous if the radial movement is arranged to take place towards the axis of the setting levers, since thereby disengagement by the sliding of the noses of the pivoted levers over the setting surfaces of the setting levers is still further facilitated by their inclined form. It is preferable for the arrangement for releasing the connection between the setting levers and pivoted levers or the operating discs to be coupled with a device by means of which all the holding pawls for the setting levers are released together. Such a combined arrangement permits the zeroizing operation to be effected with one hand only.

The drawing shows by way of example two different embodiments of the new calculating machine. Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal section of a calculating machine seen from the side with the new device incorporated. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section of a calculating machine incorporating a second form of the invention.

The two side walls l, 2 which are upstanding on a baseplate 3 and carry at the top a casing 4 support a horizontal shaft 5, upon which a series of setting levers ii are mounted so as to be freely rotatable thereon and are separated from one another by distance pieces 7. Each setting lever 6 is provided with a setting handle 8 which projects through a slot in the casing of the calculating machine. In addition, each setting lever 6 has on its edge a segment 9 bearing the figures 0 to 9. The figures on the segment 9 are visible through a hole H3 in the casing 4 corresponding to the setting of the associated setting lever Thus the row of adjacent holes iii of the setting mechanism display the number set up. Each setting lever 6 has on its lower edge eight transversely bent tongues, and of these, the first and sixth tongues I! are bent out one step, the second and seventh tongues two steps, the third and eighth tongues three steps, and the fourth and ninth tongues four steps to the right, while the fifth tongue H remains in the plane of the setting lever 6. On the left-hand side of each setting lever 6 there is a setting earn [2 with an elongated raised surface.

On the rear edge of each setting lever 6 there are ten grooves [3 adapted to be engaged by the locking pawl l5 which is pivoted about a transverse shaft IG subject to the action of a spring [4 and also carries a projection ll extending downward from the shaft. The rear end I8 of a coil spring I9 on the shaft 5 engages under the shaft I 6, and the front end of this spring engages with a pin 2| mounted on the setting lever. By means of this spring the setting lever c can restored to the position shown in Fig. 1, if in any set position of the lever B the holding pawl i5 is removed.

On opposite sides of each setting lever 6 there are provided bar-like pivoted levers 22 and 23 which are rotatable about their longitudinal axes. The rear ends of these levers, which are in the form of pins, engage in holes 25 in the partition 25 which is mounted on the baseplate 3 of the calculating machine and extends parallel to the 3 shaft 5. The front ends of the levers 22, 23 which are likewise made in the form of pins engage in holes 28 which are provided in a U-shaped frame 36 pivoted upon pins 29 in the side walls I, 2. This frame has at its rear ends upwardly projecting arms 3| which are connected at their ends by a bar 32. This bar engages with prolongations ll of the various locking pawls it. The frame is under the influence of two springs 33 which are so arranged as to tend to force the front end of the frame upwards and the frame carries a key 34 projecting through the casing 5. The pivoted levers 22, 23 are provided with downwardly projecting lugs 35 which extend within the operative range of the tongues ll and the setting surfaces l2 of each lever 6. At the rear end of each of the pivoted levers Z2, 23 are two upwardly extending arms 36, 31 which form the connection between the levers 22, 2t and the actuator gears 38, 39, a pair of which is provided for each denominational order of the setting mechanism and which in consequence of a spring ll encircling the main driving shaft is between each pair of gears 38, 39 tend to be separated.

The gears 36, 3:3, are axially sliclable on the shaft 40 but cannot rotate thereon. The gear carries four stepped teeth #2 and the gear 33 five simple teeth 43. On the setting of these gears 38, 33, by means of the associated pivoted levers 23 from the setting levers 6, the gears 38, are moved axially towards one another, so that for the digits 1 to 4 the gear 38 by means of the four stepped teeth $2, for the digit 5 the gear 39 by means of the five simple teeth, and for the digits 6 to 9 both gears 38 and 39 successively through an intermediate wheel 4 co-operate with the counting disc 35 of a registering counting mechanism. As a result of this setting of the gears 38, 39 by means of the disc-like setting lever 6, the springs 19 and (H are stressed.

When the calculation relating to the number set up on the setting mechanism is finished and a new value is to be set up on this mechanism, it may be restored to normal by pressure on the key 34. As a result of this pressure the frame 3i? pivots about the pins 29 thereby compressing the springs 33 so that its front end is moved downwards and hence the front ends of all the pivoted levers 22, 23 with their projections 35 are disengaged from the tongues H and the setting surfaces I'2 of the setting levers 8. At the same time the arms 31 of the frame 3% by means of the bar 32 lift all the locking pawls iii from the notches [3 against the action of the springs M. Since as a result of the movement of the projections 35 away from the tongues H and the setting surfaces i2 the pressure of the stressed springs it between the gears 38, 39 which is transmitted to the setting levers 8 over the pivoted levers 22, 23 is released, the stressed springs iii are readily able to bring the setting levers 6 back into the normal position shown.

When the zeroizing key 3 is released, it returns with the frame St and the pivoted levers 22, 23 mounted thereon to its normal position shown under the action of the springs 33. As a result the locking pawls it again fall into the notches l3 and the projections 35 of the pivoted levers 22, 23 again extend into the path of the tongues I I and the setting surfaces 42 which presents no difliculty since the tongues for the zero position do not project out of the plane of the settin levers 6.

Zeroizing of the setting levers t can also be readily effected if the pivoted levers 22, 23 with 4 their projections 35 are not moved downwards away from the tongues l l and the setting surfaces 52 of each setting lever B, but the setting levers themselves are moved downwards for this purpose. An embodiment illustrating this possibility is shown in Fig. 3.

The shaft 5 which carries all the setting levers 6 freely rotatable thereon is mounted at both ends in side cheeks 5i: which are pivoted about pins 29 in the side walls of the calculating machine and are subject to the operation of springs 33' and are joined by means of a rod 16 and a bar 5! connecting their front ends to form a frame. The springs I9 engage under rod it with their rear ends it while their front ends 29 engage behind the pins 2| on the setting levers 6. The rod It carries pawls l5 which are influenced by springs hi and which engage in the notches l3 of the setting levers 6. These pawls i5 carry at their upper ends extensions 52 which are adapted to co-operate with a rod 53 mounted on the casing.

If pressure is exerted on the bar 55 in the direction of the arrow, the frame 5:], I5, 51 carrying the shaft 5 and hence also the setting levers 6' is moved downwards so that the tongues ll of the setting levers 6 are moved clear of the arms 35 of the pivoted levers 22 and 23. At the same time the locking pawls I5 are withdrawn from the notches it of the setting levers 6' as they are restrained by their extensions 52 engaging the transverse rod 53. As a result, the springs it become operative and rotate all the setting levers 6' back to their normal position. When the pressure on the bar 5i is released, the springs 33 raise the frame 5d, it, 55 and the setting levers t are again returned to the position shown in which they are again engaged by the pawls l5.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that What I claim is:

1. In a calculating machine having a registering mechanism comprising ordinally deployed accumulator elements; an actuator comprising ordinally deployed pairs of stepped-tooth gears axially adjustable into operative relation with said accumulator elements, spring means urging said gears into a normal spaced apart nonaotuating position; and value indexing mechanism comprising a rotatably adjustable setting disc for each of said pairs of gears, said discs having peripheral laterally projecting cam tongues, ordinal pairs of pivoted levers connected to said gears and normally engageable by said cam tongues whereby adjustment of said setting discs moves said gears differentially into operative actuating position; means for normalizing the value indexing mechanism comprising a common supporting means for said setting 7 discs, a common supporting means for said pivoted levers, manual means for moving said supporting means to relatively displace said levers and discs in planes parallel to the planes of rotation of said discs so as to disengage said cam tongues from said pivoted levers, and resilient means for restoring said discs to normal position.

2. A calculating machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said common supporting means for the pivoted levers is movable by said manual means.

3. A calculating machine as in claim 2, wherein said setting discs have peripherally formed teeth, spring pressed pawls engageable with said teeth to hold said discs in adjusted position, and means actuated by said lever supporting means when moved by said manual means for releasing said pawls.

4. A calculating machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the common supporting means for the pivoted levers comprises a fixed frame pivotally supporting said levers adjacent said gears, a movable frame pivotally supporting said levers adjacent said setting discs, said movable frame being connected to said manual means for operation thereby.

5. A calculating machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said common supporting means for said setting discs is movable by said manual means.

6. A calculating machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said setting discs have peripherally formed teeth, spring pressed pawls pivotally mounted on said common supporting means for the discs, and a fixed abutment engageable by said pawls as said common supporting means for the setting discs is moved by said manual means 

